For most people, a trip to Walt Disney World isn’t complete without riding at least a couple of attractions. Whether you’re into boat rides, water rides, roller coasters, or something in between, Disney World has you covered! Attraction wait times can vary throughout the day, so it’s important to keep up on any changes. After all, no one wants to wait in longer lines than is necessary. Knowing where to look to find the latest wait times is a valuable skill.
Where To Find Posted Wait Times
There are several ways to find posted standby line wait times for most Disney World attractions. Which method you use will depend on your current location and access to technology (i.e. a smartphone). Let’s talk more about your options!
Outside Ride Entrances
If you are near the attraction you want to ride, one of the easiest ways to check the current wait time is to look at the sign posted outside of the attraction’s entrance. These signs are updated periodically as the wait times change.
Digital Boards Throughout The Park
Another option is to look for the digital information boards inside the park. These electronic screens can be found at central hubs and major intersections in the theme parks. Unfortunately, they are somewhat few and far between. They will show updated information about current wait times as well as park hours, parade and fireworks showtimes, and Virtual Queue boarding group status (when applicable).
The My Disney Experience App
The My Disney Experience app will quickly become your go-to source for information. The app can display wait time information, right in the palm of your hand. You can find wait times in the app in a couple of different formats:
- The map feature is my favorite way to view wait times. In this display, wait times are superimposed on the Disney World map. You can filter to view times in a specific theme park, or you can move around the larger map to see wait times for all four theme parks. I find it helpful because you can get a visual of where each attraction is in relation to everything else, including your current location. To get to the map feature, open your My Disney Experience app. Then, tap on the teardrop shaped icon near the bottom of the screen. It will default to showing wait times at Magic Kingdom. However, it can display other parks using the “Locations” drop down menu or by moving around the map using your fingertips. The same map is a one-stop shop for viewing available dining, entertainment, characters, restrooms, and PhotoPass locations as well.
- The list feature can be found near the bottom of the map. To view wait times in a list format that includes the names of attractions, tap on “Show List” in the lower right hand corner of the screen. Unless you have filters in place, the list will show you times for every operating attraction. Filtering by location will narrow your results if you don’t want to view 70+ options in the list. This view is helpful as it orders the list from lowest wait to highest.
- There is also a tip board that will show Wait Times & Showtimes. You can access it by tapping the hamburger menu in the app’s lower right hand corner. From there, scroll down to the “My Visit” section. Once you tap on “Wait Times & Showtimes”, you will see display standby times, next available showtimes, and Lightning Lane availability (if applicable) for a selected park.
Monitoring Wait Times As Part Of Trip Planning
Checking wait times while you’re in the parks is helpful for planning your next ride. However, you may also want to start monitoring wait times even before your trip. It can be quite useful to know what typical wait times are. For example, you’ll know whether or not it’s a good idea to get in line for Mad Tea Party when the posted wait time is 30+ minutes. Spoiler alert: it’s not a good idea (and this is coming from the ride’s biggest fan). Once you start looking for patterns, you’ll see how wait times can change during peak times versus off-peak times throughout the day.
Knowing typical wait times can also help you manage expectations for your trip. Popular rides can often have wait times that hover around an hour or more. If you know the wait times for a specific ride are long throughout the day, you’ll have a better idea of how many rides you can realistically accomplish.
Strategies To Experience Shorter Wait Times
There are several strategies you can employ to minimize your wait times. First, all guests of Disney Resorts (and other select hotels) have access to Early Theme Park Entry. Early Theme Park Entry allows these guests to enter any of the four Disney World theme parks and start riding select attractions 30 minutes prior to when the park opens for the general public. Thirty minutes might not seem like a lot, but any advantage you can grab to get ahead of crowds can be invaluable.
Guests staying at Disney Deluxe Resorts (and select other hotels) have access to Extended Evening Hours. This Deluxe-exclusive perk allows guests to stay in select parks on specific nights for two additional hours after they close for everyone else. Extended Evening Hours is most commonly offered at Magic Kingdom and EPCOT; however, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom will occasionally offer the benefit instead. This perk will continue through 2027, so check the park operating calendar to keep up with the latest dates.
Finally, consider a Disney After Hours ticket for shorter wait times. Purchasing a Disney After Hours event ticket allows you to be in the park for three hours after the general public has departed. In addition to limited crowds (and lower wait times), an After Hours ticket also includes items such as popcorn, frozen ice cream & fruit-bar novelties, and bottled beverages at no additional cost. Disney After Hours events are held on select nights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Magic Kingdom. MouseHouseNews.net has a review of Disney After Hours at Magic Kingdom if you would like to learn more about what to expect.
Planning Your Trip
If all of this ride talk has you excited to start planning your own trip, click the button below to request a free Disney vacation quote. Marcus from MouseHouseNews.net will take excellent care of you!
Before I let you go, I have one final caution. Listed wait times can sometimes be inaccurate. The team has experienced this in both directions. There have been times where we have been pleasantly surprised by a shorter than anticipated wait. In contrast, sometimes you get in line expecting to wait 10 minutes to ride Dumbo, but end up waiting 45 minutes instead. Try to remain patient and flexible. Finally, be aware when you see a shockingly low wait time listed… you may not be the only person rushing to the attraction to take advantage of it. Lines can build quickly, and that will make the wait time increase very quickly.
The summer season is already bringing scorching heat, high humidity, and large crowds. Be ready for the season by keeping up to date on wait times. For more Disney World tips and suggestions to plan your magical Disney Adult vacation, stay tuned to MouseHouseNews.net and subscribe to the MouseHouseNewsNet YouTube channel. We’ll see you real soon!
